‘It’s all about body weight,’ says former CFLer Tommy Europe

Getting into shape is easy, right?

All you have to do is work out and eat right. Congratulations to everyone out there who agrees; but for those who lack the motivation to get up at 4:30 a.m. and go for a jog before work, there is hope.
Offering his own take on the problem, cable TV host Tommy Europe will visit Calgary later this month to put on his “Shred Bootcamp,” which, he says helps people achieve their fitness goals.

Europe, a former CFL and NFL player, whose shows “Bulging Brides” and “The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp” air on the Slice network, says that a great attitude is key to being successful.

“It’s all about body weight (the bootcamp). It shows people that you don’t need an expensive gym, that you don’t need two hours of your time. All you need is a little bit of drive, to work hard, and to know how to work efficiently,” he says.

Slice TV host Tommy Europe will be visiting Calgary on Feb. 16 to put on his "Shred Bootcamp."

Photo courtesy: Tommy Europe TV

The bootcamp, which is being held nationwide, runs about an hour long and combines cardio training, resistance training, and core movements. It incorporates over 60 different exercises, providing variation, which Europe says is important.

“You’ve got to diversify. You don’t need a gym, you can do it all in yourself, by yourself; I help show people how to do that.”

Europe says that the camp is about having fun and learning something new.

“By the end, everyone is going to be pretty tired, but no one is going to die. Everyone is going to make it. I’m not going to bite anybody’s head off, I’ll probably crack more jokes than anyone would imagine I would.”

Europe wants the camp to have a positive, open environment, in which he wants people to feel comfortable.

“It’s not going to be something where I’m behind a glass wall.”

“I’m in a fortunate position to help people achieve their goals,” he says. “In some cases, I can help change lives just by showing people a different way of doing things.”

In an email, Paul Balsom, head trainer at the Athlete Factory, where the Calgary boot camp is being held, says that he agrees with Europe that variation is necessary.

Balsom says that the Athlete Factory uses combination programs to help its members; he describes how the programs use well-rounded athletic training, nutrition counselling, and recovery methods to help provide members with the best results.

Shred Bootcamp, which will be in Calgary on Feb. 19, is currently fully registered with around 200 participants.

A spiring fitness instructor, Krista Kokot, who was unable to get a spot in the camp, says that she is disappointed because she wanted to learn from Europe.

“Just to get ideas, to see what he had to say and and offer from his point of view. I think it’s great if you can learn from professionals.”

Kokot says that Europe’s outlook is one of the reasons that she believes his methods are so successful.

“He is contagious,” she says. “The way that he delivers his message to people, you can tell he’s excited about what he does, which is always a seller. And he looks great; who’s not going to buy what he’s selling?”